Should I go to University of Michigan or Michigan State University?

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I have been blessed with the opportunity to attend MSU for my second career, accelerated BSN and MIGHT be blessed with the option of attending UofM as well. Which would you recommend? I am already a Spartan and have attended MSU for 3 years and love it. However, I am open to trying UofM if I hear that the level of education really is better. I know UofM is nationally ranked for their nursing grad school, but I am not sure that undergraduate programs are ranked at all.

If I go to MSU, I will most likely have to travel at least 2 hours 4 days/week for clinicals, possibly 4/hours day. I hear UofM does most of their clinicals right in the Ann Arbor area, which obviously is very helpful and saves a lot of time. UofM also incorporates two master's level courses into their curriculum and MSU doesn't (I hear UofM gives their students preference to their graduate programs). However, UofM (even without counting the two masters-level courses) has about 14 credits required to obtain their BSN than MSU does...and it's only 2 months longer than MSU's program. Each semester at MSU is about 10-15 credits whereas UofM's is about 18 credits/semester. I took 18 credits at MSU once and felt it was WAY too much. I felt very stressed and was not living healthy. Has anyone went to UofM's accelerated 16 month program and felt it was very doable?

I would be greatful for anyone's experience and advice. I have many friends who went to MSU for their BSN and liked it, but a few complained that it was almost all busy work and drive time to clinicals. I don't want to just do busy work instead of learn important information I will need in the future! Unfortunately I don't know anyone who has attended UofM for their BSN, so I have no experience from the other side.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, International Health, Psych.

Seriously consider UM. You do not want the added stress and loss of productivity time traveling to clinicals. It might prove to be too much. Good luck to you.

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I was accepted to both nursing programs out of high school and had a tough time deciding as well. I went with MSU because I'm more comfortable here and I like the campus better. They are both highly ranked programs, so don't go by that so much. I would go by where you would have an easier time. Either way you get a degree from a great university. Personally I wouldn't mind the drive over taking more credit hours because that's what would stress me out the most. Good luck and congrats!

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Thank you! I ended up choosing msu also!

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Good choice!

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